UK, Scottish authorities to announce terms of referendum that could see breakup of Britain

Guelph Mercury

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - The British and Scottish governments are due to announce the terms of a referendum that could result in the breakup of the United Kingdom.

Officials from London and Edinburgh have been meeting to hammer out details of a vote on Scottish independence. A deal is expected to be approved Monday by Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.

It is likely to call for a referendum in autumn 2014, with a single yes-no question on independence.

Scotland and England united in 1707 to form Great Britain, with a common monarch, currency and London-based government.

Scotland has significant autonomy, including an Edinburgh-based Scottish Parliament. But some Scots want to go further and make the nation of 5 million people an independent country within the European Union.